Benazquista is Garden of the Month

SCHOHARIE — The Schoharie Valley Garden Club Garden of the Month for September is a great one. This month’s garden will actually qualify as the “BEST” for two months.

One only has to see it to know why.

Sally Benacquista on Bridge Street in Schoharie has managed to create an extensive garden of beautiful fall plantings. It has chrysanthemums in a diversity of color and size,  hosta’s, cornstalks, pumpkins, wild grasses, bears and scarecrows to mention just a few. 

To see it is to believe it! 

Happy Fall and Happy Halloween. 

To learn more about or to join the Schoharie Valley Garden Club you can call Sue at 518-231-0785 or Helen at 518-810-3094

Submitted by Helen Lindstrom and Mary Harmon

 

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Beretz to be Sentenced Nov. 6 in Death of Man

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Jenna Fahrenkopf, formerly known as Jenna Beretz, is scheduled to be sentenced in a Schoharie County courtroom on Thursday, November 6 on charges from the death of Jeffrey Mickle in 2023.

Beretz was found guilty on September 17 by a Schoharie County jury on various charges in the death. The sentencing is slated for 10am. 

Beretz, 36, was arrested in May on charges of manslaughter in the first-degree, tampering with evidence, and assisting in the hiding of a corpse - victim Jeffrey Mickle, who was last seen on November 25, 2023, and whose body was found in Broome on November 29 of that year. The killing occurred at 151 Clauverwie Road in a house owned by Philip and Irving Skowfoe.

Beretz, who faces five to 25 years in prison, was the third person arrested in connection with the murder. Deputies had been looking for Beretz, who they said was believed to be in Scranton, Pennsylvania but with ties to Middleburgh, when they asked for the public’s help in locating her. She was arrested by the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office after she turned herself in June 2024.

Michael Todtschinder of Middleburgh was acquitted in the spring of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Mr. Mickle, but was convicted of two lesser counts.

Todtschinder, 24, was on trial in Schoharie County Court in the death of Mr. Mickle, 41. Deputies discovered Mr. Mickle’s body with several apparent gunshot wounds. Todtschinder was located a few days later near Scranton, Pennsylvania and arrested.

Todtschinder was found guilty of tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse. He also was found not guilty of criminal possession of a weapon.

Walter J. Fahrenkopf, then 39, of Fulton, was also arrested on charges of concealment of a human corpse, for his alleged part in Mr. Mickle’s death. He reportedly assisted in concealing the corpse, Deputies said.

Fahrenkopf pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a Class B violent felony, and concealment of a human corpse, a Class E felony, in Schoharie County Court. He was sentenced last November 4 and was expected to receive a prison term of 20 years.

 

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Broome Reviews Tentative Budget

By Joshua Walther

BROOME - On Wednesday night, the Broome Town Board convened to discuss their tentative budget, as well as a county-level short term rental resolution and a new potential accountant.

After gathering the numbers from each department head over the last couple months, Supervisor Steve Weinhofer and Highway Superintendent Jason Wayman met with their accountant to complete each line and be put forth before the Board.

To begin, Supervisor Weinhofer led members in a review of their health insurance plan, which would normally see a 12% increase from last year.

To combat this, he suggested that the Board lower the insurance from a platinum plan to a gold plan, which would save them about $5,000 on its own, and then increase the reimbursable amount for each of their four eligible employees from $1,000 to $1,500.

“They never use the full amount anyway,” said Supervisor Weinhofer, and explained that it would only come out of the Town’s budget if the employees needed it.

With no one contesting the total savings of $3,000, the Board made a motion to approve the switch to the gold plan, allowing for more funding allocations elsewhere.

Second on their list to review was the budgeted total for the fire department, which a representative had asked last month to come up from around $104,000 to $125,000.

Supervisor Weinhofer noted that the increase would be far outside of the normal range, which he had told  the representative before, and explained that the best compromise would rest at $109,000.

With no one from the fire department to approve or contest the total, the Board was happy with the amount, and Supervisor Weinhofer invited them to attend next month’s meeting if there were any concerns.

Finally, Supervisor Weinhofer said that the fund balance was in “good shape” and he wanted to keep a special eye on it, as the funds to pay for their eventual salt shed roof repair will be pulled from there.

The Board found no issues with the tentative budget, and so the numbers will be transferred to a preliminary budget that will have a public hearing at the next month’s meeting, after which it may be approved.

In other news, Supervisor Weinhofer brought a county-level short term rental resolution before the Board to ask for their opinion.

The state is recommending that counties either opt into or out of a registry that will keep track of short term rentals, which made him wary of liability and regulation concerns.

“Some of the laws that the towns are passing are so restrictive, like how many cars can park,” he said. “If something happens, like the county didn’t inspect something on time, it opens us up for liability.”

Other Board members were largely in agreement with Supervisor Weinhofer, citing further concerns such as no available enforcement, and he stated that he will likely vote against the resolution at the County Board of Supervisors.

Finally, Supervisor Weinhofer said that their accountant will be dropping all of their municipality clients at the turn of the new year, and suggested that the Town draft an RFP to find someone new, to which the Board agreed.

 

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Gilboa/Conesville News by Dorothy Pickett

What a wonderful Fall we are having this year. Our only problem there has been no rain for quite a while as I write this week’s column. Burn bans and conserve water alerts have been on the radio every morning. Those of us with wells need to be conscientious about our water to. While the trees are turning color the leaves that are falling to the ground are well dried up and crunchy when you walk on them. The Gilboa reservoir is extremely low with lots of streams dried up to. 

Although I was unable to get the Buffalo Bills game the other day as I don’t have Prime, I did hear they beat the Dolphins 31-21. GO BILLS!

Congratulations to our very own Gilboa gal Kristen Wyckoff. Kristen has just published her first children’s book titled “Dennis’s Devonian Adventure.” The book is about a father and son fishing on the Schoharie Reservoir right here in Gilboa. Dennis catches a prehistoric fish that brings him back to the Devonian Period. The fish educates him on the Oldest Tree Fossils and other Sea Creatures. Even adults will like this book as much as the kids do. To purchase one, you need only to visit the Gilboa Museum on weekends or via e-mail gilboafossils.org, which is the online gift shop. This is such exciting news.  We are all very proud of Kristen here in our hometown. 

Conesville Historical Society’s President Kim Young and Debbie Hill will be hosting an oral History workshop at the Gilboa Museum & Nicholas J. Juried History Center on Saturday, Sept 27, 1:00pm. The workshop is sponsored by the Gilboa Hist. Soc., Jefferson Hist. Soc. and Middletown Hist. Soc. It will be introduced by Kevin Berner, Pres. of the Jefferson Hist. Soc. If anyone read my last week’s column I wrote about the video with interviews Debbie and Kim did of ten Conesville Residents. To learn more about it all are welcome to the Gilboa Museum.

The Memorial Tribute for Nick Juried at the Gilboa Museum on Sunday, Sept. 28, is coming together nicely. We hope to see you there for this memorial 1:00pm-4:00pm. All are welcome to honor such a generous man who gave and supported so many organizations. Nick sadly passed away last January. 

What an enjoyable Wednesday it was for me. I drove to the Stamford Library where Karen Cuccinello gave a slide show of all the Hotels that were in Stamford many years ago. One cannot imagine what it must have taken to build them. I knew about quite a few of them and some I had never heard of. When it came to Churchill Hall, I had to tell Karen that my late hubby used to run along the long porch while his grandmother, who was a nurse was inside taking care of a guest that Dr. Hubbell had sent her to see. I had a few other comments that I remember being told about. After the slide show we had lunch in the Golf Course Clubhouse.

Lisa Birnbaum tells me that the Victorian Tea was a success at the Pratt Museum on Saturday. Daughter Diane attended and said it was very nice. I believe they had three different time settings. She sent me pictures and with all the smiles it looked like everyone enjoyed it a lot. Fellow correspondent Ginny Gurley I believe may have some pictures in her column this week. 

Sunday after worship service I attended a 70th Birthday celebration for Ann O’Hara Majoris. Sherry Hubbard hosted it at Rockland Cidery. Among some who were there were Ann’s husband Steve, Jackie Roland, Lance Manning, Steve Hubbard, Donna Ramundo, Mike and Dawn Fleishman, Tina Stryker and quite a few more from Windham and Prattsville. Sherry placed a sparkling crown on Anns head, a sparkling band over her shoulder as she cut a lovely two-tiered cake. The band played happy birthday with all of us singing. As I was leaving, I stopped for a brief visit with some others from Gilboa who were enjoying cider and food

Monday afternoon after arriving home from Oneonta from an outing with daughter Diane and Mary Hynes I noticed something between the barn and my other building. When I walked down by the barn oh my gosh my field had been completely cleared and I could see the whole lake! When I had the gentleman from Roxbury come to look the field I wanted cleared,, I told him if I am not home you know what I want done. Trees that had fallen and the brush that was ever so high were all gone. Later in the evening Heidi and David Pickett stopped by and we walked down by the gap in the field. They thought it was just perfect. Eric came back early Tuesday morning to finish everything up. 

Bernadette from Gavin’s Irish Inn located on Golden Hill Rd. Cornwallville has lots going on Check out her website Gavinsinn.com

The school bus rolls along down Flat Creek Road early in the morning these days. Some of the children I have talked with are really enjoying being back to school with their classmates and friends. It just does not seem possible how fast the summer months went. 

Marilyn Wyckoff held the Farmers Market once again on Friday from 4-6 under the Gilboa Museum Pavilion. Several vendors were there with lots of great veggies, honey, gifts along with even a food truck. Pastor Dottie was certainly enjoyed stopping by to purchase some fresh veggies. Watch for Marilyn’s signs on Route 30 and 990V then stop by to see what they all have there.  

Gilboa Town Board:  

The last day for Doe Tag application is October 1, 2025.

Tire Day is October 11 for Town of Gilboa Taxpayers 8:00am-12?00noon. 

October 14, 6:30pm Town Board meeting chang due to Columbus Day Holiday

October 20, 8:30am special town board meeting Budget Workshop

November 6, 6:30pm Special Board Meeting-Public Hearing 2026 Budget

November 10, 6:30pm Town Board Meeting on Budget/Public Hearing on Gilboa Fire      Protection District  

Prayer Concerns: All who may be ill at this writing.

Birthdays: September 28 Irene Hess and Beverly Harris. September 30 FloraDel Hubbard  All of you, enjoy your special day, blessed in the Lord.  

Anniversary: 

Upcoming Events: The Gilboa Museum presents at their next Art Show “Barns & Farms from October 3 to October 12 with the opening reception on Friday Oct. 3, from 5-7pm. It is a short run however, it will be a stop on the Schoharie County Arts Driveabout, Oct. 3-4

Rockland Cidery: Fri. Sept. 26 Think & Sip with Monthly Trivia 7-9pm, Sat. Sept 27, Yoga 11am-12noon, live music 3-6 with Lali & the Pops, Bombshell Snack Shack food truck available. Sun. Sept. 28 Live music from Nymbis Duo 3-6pm Bombshell food truck available.

Sunday Worship Services: 

Gilboa Methodist: 9:00am located on 990V

Flat Creek Baptist: Flat Creek Road, 9:30am Sunday school, 10:30am worship service with coffee and fellowship following the service. 

Conesville United Methodist Chapel: First and Third Sunday of the month 4:00pm, Route 990V.

Got News? E-mail pickee@midtel.net 

 

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MCS Looking to Incorporate AI

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - AI-artificial intelligence- is here and spreading and not going anywhere. Many educators have dreaded the use of AI, but Middleburgh teachers are being asked to use AI, at least in the classroom.

Superintendent Mark Place told school board members that he sends out AI minutes and tips from Nano Banana, an AI art generator, to teachers and staff. At the staff development day, staff and teachers were asked to engage themselves in AI and to incorporate it in their classrooms and formulating their lessons. The art generators can quickly create pictures of objects either lifelike or cartoonlike, Mr. Place said.

AI is not being required, but will be suggested as a tool for teachers and staff. "Whatever works for them," Mr. Place.

"That's what we're trying to build. To incorporate and use AI in instruction," he added.

*   *   *

In other action, board members: 

* Approved Janice Boyles, certified teacher, and Danielle Ball, registered nurse, as certified substitutes.

* Named Sky Rivera as a support staff substitute.

* Accepted the resignation retirement of long-time custodial worker Dale Urrey effective October 17. The board accepted the retirement with regret and best wishes.

* Appointed Mikayla Misenhimer to a four-year probationary position as a teaching assistant starting on September 1.

* Named the following extracurricular advisors for the 2025-26 school year: Ms. Misenhimer and Marissa Lombardo as co-advisors of the sophomore class; Nick Follett, Gay-Straight Alliance; Eric Weller, jazz band and marching band; Ms. Misenhimer, musical choral director, Mr. Follett, musical orchestra director; and Ms. Lombardo and Ms. Misenhimer, co-advisors for the spring film.

 

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New York Power Authority to Host Wildlife Festival at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center on September 27

NORTH BLENHEIM —The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will host its annual Wildlife Festival, a community event featuring family-friendly activities, at the visitors center for the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The festival will feature a petting zoo, multiple bounce houses, a virtual reality experience, wildlife-themed crafts and a photo booth. Additionally, an entertainment tent on site will host a bubble show, dance performances, magic and a STEM presentation by the Dirtmeister. DJ Patrick M. DelRosario will provide live entertainment throughout the day. Food trucks and craft vendors will also be on-site.

The Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center is housed in a restored 19th-century dairy barn and features interactive exhibits on electricity, energy use and the operation of the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project. The center is open daily for guided tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The complex is located at 1378 State Route 30 in North Blenheim, 17 miles south of Middleburgh and five miles north of Grand Gorge, approximately one hour from Albany.

Admission to the visitor's center and all events is free. School groups, community organizations and coach operators are welcome. For more information and a full calendar of events, call (800) 724-0309 or visit www.nypa.gov.

 

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Schoharie Blanks Mekeel

SCOTIA — In a well contested match, Mekeel Christian Academy hosted Schoharie for a WAC contest Thursday. 

Schoharie would find the net early on a Max Kenny long ball that slipped past the hands of the goalkeeper. 

Mekeel would hold strong and battle back and forth with the Storm for the rest of the half. 

Then, in the waning seconds of the half, RJ Smith placed a corner kick with the right bounce and spin to fool both teams and the goalkeeper to find the net! 2-0 Schoharie at the half. 

The second half opened with physical play as both teams wanted the next goal. This led to a foul inside the box and Schoharie’s Smith would tally for his second goal of the game. The Storm would score one more on a set piece that bounced inside the box where Sebastion Clemente made it 4-0 Storm. 

The Lions had masterful performances from Jadin Zoeller and Isaac Olupitan in the contest. Storm GK, Alex Wray marked his second clean sheet for the year needing only 2 saves.

Special thanks to Prince Knight for the information.

Schoharie 

Mekeel Christian Academy 0 

Scoring

Schoharie

#9 Maxwell Kenny 1G

#2 RJ Smith 2G

#24 Sebastian Clemente 1G

#3 Benjamin Borst 1A

#00 GK Alex Wray 2 saves on 2 shots

Mekeel

# GK 6 saves on 10 shots

 

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Retired Educators of Schoharie County Annual Meeting & Luncheon Oct. 16

The Schoharie County Retired Teachers will hold their annual meeting and luncheon on Thursday, October 16.  The meeting is open to all retired educators (teachers, administrators, teaching assistants) who taught or currently live in Schoharie County.  Connecting with other retired educators is a great way to enhance your retirement years.  If you have not attended a retired educators meeting recently or ever, please mark your calendar, bring a friend, and join us.

The meeting starts at 11:00 AM in the Greenside Clubhouse at the Cobleskill Golf Course, Route 7, Cobleskill.  If you would like to stay for lunch following the meeting, reservations and payment must be sent to Leslie Hooper by October 6, 2025.  For more information and luncheon details, call Leslie (518 827 4754) and please leave a voice message.

 

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SCS Board Adds Two Student Members

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - For the second year in a row, the Schoharie school board will have two student members.

School officials and board members last week welcomed Caiden McFee, a senior, and Madelyn Bruno, a sophomore as student board members.

The student members cannot vote at meetings but can give their opinions. Madelyn is the daughter of current board member Brad Bruno.

The SCS board had two student board members last school year.

*   *   *

In other action, board members:

* Appointed Jennifer Chavez to a three-year probationary position as a secondary computer science teacher.

* Accepted the resignation  of Isis Brown as full-time teacher aide, effective August 26.

* Accepted the resignation of part-time teacher aide Shawna Mattoon, effective August 25.

* Accepted the resignation of teacher aide Yajaira Lopez effective August 31, in order to accept a position as high school nurse, which was approved last month.

* Appointed Michelle Houle to a probationary position as a bus driver at a salary of $25.90 an hour.

* Named Heather Barrett to a probationary position as a full-time teacher aide in special education at a salary of $19,897 per year.

* Named Brandy Fall to a probationary position as a full-time teacher aide in special education at a salary of $20,294 per year.

* Appointed Michelle Yager to a probationary position as a full-time teacher aide at a salary of $19,305 a year.

* Named Jade Palmatier to a probationary position as a part-time teacher aide at a salary of $16.95 per hour.

* Named Sarah Wright as a long-term substitute in the elementary school from September 2 to 23.

* Approved an additional period stipend for Adriene Bush, pre-algebra class, at a stipend of $8,000, and Carolyn Strauch, participation in government/economics, at a stipend of $8,000.

* Agreed to add indoor track as a winter sport.

* Added the following mentors to the mentorship program: Lindsay DiMaso, Amy Thalheimer, and Lori Warner.

* Added Ms. Warner as Level 1 mentor to mentee Yajaira Lopez, at a stipend of $1,808.

* Added the following to the returning SCS sub list at the current sub rates: Norine Hodges, non-certified, Jordan Jaquay, certified, Terese Kenyon, non-certified, Jamie McFarlan, non-certified, Kaitlin, non-certified, Katherine Phelan, non-certified, and Ana Schmid, certified. Corrected the sub appointment of Luke Van Cleef, certified with degree. Added Jason Wayman to the sub list at a salary of $34 an hour, retroactive to the 2024-25 school year and through the 2025-26 school year.

* Added the following people to the SCS sub list at the current sub rates: Isabel Beaver, non-certified, Vicky Bouck, non-certified, Janice Boyles, certified, Valentina Conway, non-certified, Rachel Murray, non-certified, and Julia Vester, non-certified.

* Added seven people to the Capital Region BOCES teacher sub calling service list.

 

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SCS to Push Reading

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Schoharie Central School Superintendent David Blanchard has a message to SCS students: Pick up a book and read.

No one can deny that smart phones and the Internet have put more information in the hands of people, including high school students. The question is how much does that information help students understand what they are reading.

Schoharie Central School must promote reading more than ever, Superintendent Blanchard told school board members last week.

At their meeting Thursday, Superintendent Blanchard said he recently reviewed the literacy rate data for high school seniors and the results were "really concerning across the country."

Students are sending and receiving texts, but the Superintendent is concerned with students "not being engaged with books like they used to."

Students just do not retain information as they should, he said.

"If you ask most students about what they scrolled about 15 minutes after they finish, they're going to say, 'What are you talking about?'"

The conversion to digital media has been "at the detriment of our students."

Reading has to be emphasized for all students, Superintendent Blanchard told school board members.

Time during the school has to be set aside to read and "to get books into kid's hands," he said.

"I'm asking all sports teams to read at least one book together during the season. The coach will decide what book and assign chapters to be read. 

"We will attempt to engage clubs in a similar way but will need to be more judicious with regard to the club and their activities as they do not meet as often or with the same intensity as our sports teams."

The push needs to be on the elementary school on up, he added.

"There's so many ways to get books into a kid's hands...If you are in the musical, you have a book to read...

"We're going to make it a requirement."

The problem, of course, is not just in Schoharie. "It's a societal problem."

It should be a "full academic" presence, he added. "We've got books in kid's hands again."

According to World Population Review, New York has the second-highest percentage of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills of 22.1 percent, equaling a literacy rate of 77.9 percent. Despite this, New York has the ninth-highest percentage of adults with Bachelor’s degrees or higher of 35.7 percent.

High school seniors’ average reading and math scores have dropped on the “nation’s report card”—and the scores of students struggling the most have fallen to historic lows, according to EducationWeek.

Results released in September from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress show that more students than ever before are scoring below NAEP’s threshold for mastery of “basic” skills. It is the first time the tests have been given to 12th graders since before the pandemic.

The country’s eighth graders also lost ground in science, erasing the average growth students had made in the subject since 2009, EducationWeek noted.

 

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Singer-Songwriter James Gordon to Perform at Middleburgh Library

MIDDLEBURGH — As a solo singer-songwriter, and with the ground-breaking trio Tamarack, James Gordon has recorded over forty albums and toured relentlessly around the world. He’s written for symphony orchestras, musical theatre and dance works, scored films, and for more than ten years was heard on CBC radio as songwriter-in-residence for the ’Basic Black’ and ‘Ontario Morning’ programs. 

James Gordon will perform at 4pm, Sunday, October 5th at the Middleburgh Library, as part of the Not So Quiet Concert Series. 

There is a suggested donation of $15.00 – space is limited, so reservations are required – call 518-827-4953.

This program is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature and administered by CREATE County Council on the Arts.

 

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